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Mass Rescue Operations (MRO)
Guidance and documents pertaining to Mass Rescue Operations
Coast Guard
Passenger Vessel Safety Program
This link is to the Coast Guard Passenger Vessel Safety Program web
page, which provides additional information concerning mass rescue
operations, exercises, planning, training, and other information on
maritime mass rescue.
USCG MRO Planning Guidance
In the event of a mass rescue
(MRO), no single organization is fully equipped to mount an effective
response. The success of an MRO is contingent upon the seamless
efforts of search and rescue agencies, the company, mutual assistance
assets, and Good Samaritans. Success is also contingent upon
effective plans and the exercising of those plans.
The purpose of this planning guidance is to assist those in developing
plans for mass rescue operations in the maritime or navigable waterway
environment. Mass rescues could be the result of a ship, aircraft,
rail, roadway or natural disaster incident. In any case, the
sequence of priority in major multi-mission incidents must be
lifesaving, environmental protection, and then property protection.
The intent of this planning guidance is to also generate consistency,
raise awareness, identify stakeholders, and provide continuity between
existing emergency plans such as: Federal, State, County, City,
Industry (e.g. Involved Party, Salvagers, etc.), Good Samaritan, and
Volunteer Organizations.
National SAR Supplement on Mass Rescue Operations.
The NSARC Mass Rescue Working Group developed text for the National Search and Rescue Supplement on
Mass Rescue Operations. NSARC approved the text at the December 4, 2003 general meeting.
- Guidance
for Mass Rescue Operations
COMSAR Circular 31, 6 Feb 2003. - Guidelines for Plans of Cooperation Between SAR
Services Passenger Ships
MSC Circular 1079, 10 July 2003. - Enhanced Contingency Planning
Guidance for Passenger Ships Operating in Areas Remote From Facilities
MSC.1 Circular 1184, 31 May 2006 -
Guidelines on Voyage Planning for Passenger Ships Operating In Remote Areas
Resolution A.999(25), 29 Nov 2007
Alaska Maritime Mass Rescue Operations
Job Aids
USCG Rescue Coordination Center Juneau, Alaska
(District 17) created the following aids to assist with the Passenger
Vessel Safety Program
- Multi– Agency Quick Response Guide for Passenger Vessels
- Reception Center Operations Job Aid
- Landing Site Operations Job Aid
- Guidance for “Good Samaritan” Vessels Assisting in Maritime Search and Rescue
-
Guide to Recovery Techniques
The Maritime Safety Committee, at its eighty-first session (10-19 May 2006), with a view to providing specific guidance to seafarers on recovery techniques, approved the Guide on recovery techniques, prepared by the Sub-Committee on Radiocommunications and Search and Rescue at its tenth session (6 to 10 March 2006), as set out in the included Annex.
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